So basically....

[jennescence]

....If you want anything you put on your hair to be of benefit you need to not have any cones on your hair? My hair really loves cones, so this is hard for me to understand. Should i clarify before i oil or deep condition so that my hair has enough protein and moisture underneath the cones?

[HylianGirl]

Many people here love -cones. I have used them for my whole life and never had a problem, but now I'm experimenting what it is like to be -cone-free and see the results, but it is still too early to see the difference ^-^ But I guess as long as you clarify from time to time, it's ok to use -cones, if your hair likes them. =)

[Mairéad]

I don't think this is necessarily true, though I am not a cone user. Typically it is recommend to clarify your hair before a deep treatment. But, I think this is to sort of "reset" your hair more so than make the treatment effective. I know many here oil and -cone it up.

[jennescence]

Oh okay thanks:) I just didnt know if oiling would be effective at all withcones still in

[Mairéad]

I don't know a ton about -cones, but even though they help seal things down it doesn't exactly make your hair impenetrable or anything. That, and assuming you're a shampoo and conditioner user and further assuming your shampoo has sulfates, there shouldn't be a terrible amount of build up anyway.

[Sillage]

I oil all the time and I'm a cone user. Normally I oil after I wash my hair-- my conditioner always has cones and sometimes my shampoo does too! I've even mixed my oils with coney leave ins and have still see an obvious effect from the oils.

[maborosi]

No.

I don't really understand why people spread the idea that there is something inherently wrong with using 'cones, but there isn't. If your hair does well with 'cones- use cones. It's as simple as that. Yes, you can oil with them. I personally don't think my hair would like that, but if that's what works for you, then that's what works for you! :) It's as simple as that.

~maborosi~

[jennescence]

Thank you all for your responses:)

[Lady Neeva]

Nope. S & C alone is just fine. (Am I making any sense?)

[roxee]

cones is a must for me and I do a oil treatment on my hair at least twice a week and oil my hair daily, I would definitely say oiling and deep conditioning my hair has made a huge difference to my hair regardless of the use of cones

[MonaLisa]

It's not true..
I'm on and off cones non stop, and I still do all my oil treatments and stuff...it all works :)

[fridgee]

I think the only issue comes if you want the oils to penetrate your hair or not. For example coconut oil will actually soak into the cortex of the hair, whereas most oils sit on the cuticle. If there is a coating on the hair such as cones the coconut oil won't penetrate the hair, just lie on top. It will still help prevent moisture loss, it just won't soak in. So it depends what oil you are using and what you want it to do really. If you have something that works stick with it!

[naturally yours]

Cones dosen't stop anything penetrating the hair. I use cones and I dont have problems with build up or moisture. I oil my hair all the time. You dont need to clarify to get rid of cones. A sulfate free poo can get rid of cones as well. If your hair like cones then use them.

[melusine963]

I think the only issue comes if you want the oils to penetrate your hair or not. For example coconut oil will actually soak into the cortex of the hair, whereas most oils sit on the cuticle. If there is a coating on the hair such as cones the coconut oil won't penetrate the hair, just lie on top. It will still help prevent moisture loss, it just won't soak in. So it depends what oil you are using and what you want it to do really. If you have something that works stick with it!

This is interesting. Do you know where I can find out more about which oils penetrate and which don't? I'm quite new here, so I don't know if this has been discussed before.

[SimplyViki]

I just think of cones as something that can make my hair shiny and smooth and lovely, but that may be a culprit if my hair's feeling plasticky or dried out or otherwise bad. So I use them and love them, but I'll clarify if something's feeling off about my hair.

[spidermom]

Thing is, when you use cones, you distribute them through your hair. You don't coat every single hair.

I use cones and pre-wash oiling. My hair benefits from both.

[fridgee]

This is interesting. Do you know where I can find out more about which oils penetrate and which don't? I'm quite new here, so I don't know if this has been discussed before.

This (http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/showthread.php?t=30171) is quite a long thread discussing oils and the benefits of using them on the surface and of them penetrating the hair and which are best for what. I hope that helps! :flower:

ETA: And another thread (http://www.longhaircommunity.com/forums/showthread.php?t=60800) talking about when coconut oil will/won't penetrate.

[melusine963]

This (http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/showthread.php?t=30171) is quite a long thread discussing oils and the benefits of using them on the surface and of them penetrating the hair and which are best for what. I hope that helps! :flower:

ETA: And another thread (http://www.longhaircommunity.com/forums/showthread.php?t=60800) talking about when coconut oil will/won't penetrate.

Thank you! Those articles were very helpful.

[julliams]

I personally do clarify before doing treatments. Just habit I suppose but I like to think I'm starting with a "clean slate". It's probably a "head" thing rather than being an actual fact.

[Henrietta]

I don't know the scientific theory well and I do not wish to know it because I use cones, a lot of them, and also oils and non-coney deep treatments which visibly work despite cones. Even if the theory says one thing, try the practice.